Alexander barely managed to pull the jerking Audi into the driveway of the target location which was a familiar high-end condominium complex that practically oozed wealth from its polished marble entrance and manicured hedges.

As he sat there idling unevenly a parade of luxury vehicles emerged from the underground garage including sleek Mercedes-Benzes and roaring Porsches since side by side with those high-gama machines his simple Audi looked completely basic and ordinary.

He guided the car toward the security booth trying his best not to stall the engine again while a guard in a crisp uniform stepped out "I’m here to pick up a resident" said Alexander.

The guard checked his clipboard and pointed down a side lane "Visitor parking is right over there sir so take a spot and wait" said the guard.

Alexander slowly crept into the visitor section to press the clutch and shut off the ignition with a massive sigh of relief because the moment the engine died his phone buzzed in his hand with a fresh text notification.

TMC System: 10 minutes remaining so welcome to your second mission, TMC wishes you great success since everything required for this assignment is located in the trunk. If you need any additional supplies you may purchase them immediately and the funds will be instantly reimbursed to your account.

Curious and still slightly shaken from the drive Alexander pulled the trunk release lever to step out of the car. He walked around to the back to lift the heavy lid and stared inside where a small locked hard-case was resting in the center of the clean carpet so he snapped the latches open making his breath instantly hitch in his throat.

Inside the foam padding lay a sleek matte-black 9mm handgun along with two empty magazines and eighteen polished golden bullets neatly arranged right beside a folded piece of paper. He picked up the paper with a trembling hand to scan the sharp print.

The firearm is legally registered under your name so your concealed carry permit is enclosed within this folder and use it only if absolutely necessary.

Alexander stared at the weapon in pure unadulterated shock while his brain went completely haywire, the adrenaline from earlier turned into cold panic. He frantically tore open the official envelope tucked beneath the case to find his actual legal firearm registration along with a printed sheet of strict instructions containing a bold heading that read The Professional Escort Protocol.

As his eyes scanned the text the realization hit him like a physical blow because this wasn’t an escort service in the way he had thought since it was a literal security escort and a bodyguard assignment.

Rule 1: The Principal is your absolute priority because their safety and schedule come before your own life.

Rule 2: You must remain completely vigilant at all times to scan the perimeter and anticipate threats before they manifest.

Rule 3: You are expected to blend seamlessly into the Principal’s environment to act as a shield and a driver.

Alexander dropped his head into his hands while a manic laugh escaped his lips, he was an accounting student who had spent the last year pretending to be a Prude Prince on a wooden stage.

Now the agency had handed him a live firearm and expected him to play the role of a high-stakes tactical bodyguard for a wealthy client in less than ten minutes so the chaos in his mind was absolute.

He didn’t know how to shoot a gun and could barely shift the gears on the car he was driving but as he looked at the blue Rolex ticking down the final seconds he knew there was no turning back "Do you want to go back to living in the shit, you already told your uncle to go to hell so there is no turning back now since you either sink or you swim shit" said Alexander.

He took a deep shuddering breath to force the panic down into the pit of his stomach and closed his eyes for a split second to pull out a completely new persona through his theater training. He needed to find the cold detached focus of a professional killer who didn’t feel fear so when he opened his eyes the warmth was gone.

He picked up the heavy brass bullets one by one pushing them into the spring-loaded magazine while the sharp mechanical click of each round echoed inside the trunk. He loaded both magazines as his movements became steady and deliberate before picking up the 9mm to check the chamber just like the instructions stated.

Tucked inside the case was a black tactical shoulder holster with a pouch for the extra magazine so he slipped his arms through the nylon straps tightening the rig across his chest until the weapon sat snugly under his left armpit.

But the moment he adjusted his posture and looked at his reflection in the car’s tinted window his heart sank because he wasn’t wearing a loose suit jacket or a heavy winter coat tonight. He was wearing the tight premium designer t-shirt and slim jeans TMC had provided for the casual look so the thick straps of the holster tore into the clean lines of the shirt while the bulk of the handgun protruded heavily against his ribs making it completely obvious that he was carrying a hidden weapon.

Alexander let out a bitter stressed curse under his breath, he had exactly five minutes left before the principal walked out and his manual car was a nightmare to drive since he was currently walking into a high-society fortress looking like a walking red flag.